Amid Protests In Badlapur, Maharashtra Teacher Arrested For Allegedly Molesting 6 Girls In Akola

Amid massive protests in Badlapur over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls, another disturbing incident has emerged.

In Akola district, six girls have reportedly been molested by a school teacher, Pramod Manohar Sardar, who has been arrested.

Sardar, a teacher at Zilla Parishad School in Kazikhed village, was taken into custody on Tuesday evening. Superintendent of Police Bachchan Singh confirmed the arrest, stating, "We received a complaint about the molestation of six schoolgirls by their teacher, Pramod Manohar Sardar. He was promptly arrested, and the statements of the victimized girls have been recorded." A case has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Meanwhile, the protests in Badlapur have led authorities to shut down internet services for a second consecutive day on Wednesday. The town was paralyzed on Tuesday as thousands of protesters blocked railway tracks and stormed a local school.

The unrest resulted in injuries to at least 17 city police officers and around eight railway personnel due to stone-pelting. Authorities have arrested 72 individuals in connection with the violence.

The protests in Badlapur were initially triggered by allegations that a school sweeper had assaulted two girls in the school washroom last week.